Automatic range containment system

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic range containment system for e in an electric/optical or electromagnetic active "radar" type sensor to discriminate against background obstructions within a sensor field of view. The system comprises an intrusion timer initiated by a signal received from a target sensor; a containment interval timer initiated by a turn-on pulse; a transmitter oscillator in combination with a clock generating pulses; a range containment timer initiated by the pulses; a range set-back timer in combination with a range gate and a gate; a range counter for counting and totalling a signal passed through the gate; and a digital-to-analog converter converting the signal from the range counter to the range containment timer providing a range control causing the system to reduce operational range if the background obstructions appear within the sensor's field of view.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic range containment system discriminating against background obstructions within a sensor field of view, which comprises: (a) means for receiving a signal from a target sensor, for completing a connection providing power to said system, and for generating a turn-on pulse;   (b) a containment interval timer electrically coupled to said intrusion timer and initiated by the turn-on pulse, said interval timer having an on-time adapted to enable said system detection range to be reduced to a value less than the range of a non-target obstacles appearing in the sensor's field-of-view;   (c) a transmitter oscillator in combination with clock-generating pulses;   (d) a range containment timer electrically coupled to said transmitter oscillator and initiated by said pulses;   (e) a range gate electrically connected to a first gate and a range setback timer initiated by range-gated, reflected pulses from said transmitter oscillator, in which said range setback timer is also initiated at said turn-on pulse;   (f) a range counter electrically coupled to a second gate for counting and totalling a signal passed through said second gate;   (g) a digital-to-anaolg converter coupled to the output of said range counter for converting the signals from the range counter to said range containment timer and providing a range control causing the system to reduce operational range if background obstructions appear within the sensor's field of view.   
     
     
       2. The automatic range containment system as recited in claim 1 further comprises: (a) a binary integrator counter electrically connected to said range counter through a third gate receiving a maximum count signal from said range counter; and   (b) an aiming timer in combination with a fourth gate connected across said binary integrator counter so that when a count by said binary integrator counter reaches a predetermind value, a fire pulse signal is generated, and said signal is delayed and gated in said gate by an interval of said aiming timer which serves to delay the fire pulses in order to hit a median speed target directly in its center.   
     
     
       3. An automatic range containment system as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said means for receiving a signal from a target sensor comprises; an intrusion timer having a duration of on time of 34 seconds; a first output pulse signal for generating a turn-on pulse to the input of said containment interval time, to initiate reset for said range counter and to supply an input signal for said first gate.